Read 03_A Family To Call Her Own Online
Authors: Irene Hannon
03_A Family To Call Her Own (31 page)
But his side of the bed was empty.
She frowned and rose on one elbow to survey the rumpled pillow, absently adjusting the spaghetti strap that had slipped down her shoulder. Where could he be? She’d been looking forward to a lazy morning in bed, perhaps even a late breakfast on the patio, just the two of them. But it seemed Zach had other plans, she thought disappointedly.
She was just about to swing her legs to the floor when a creaking stair caught her attention. She glanced toward the half-shut bedroom door, just in time to catch Zach peering carefully around the edge. He grinned when he saw that she was awake and pushed the door open with his shoulder.
“Good morning,” he greeted her cheerily, smiling at her as he entered.
She stared at him. He was carrying a tray holding a bud vase that contained two pink tulips, a plate of croissants, butter, jam, a pot of coffee and various eating utensils. But what really caught her attention was his attire—shorts and a black tuxedo bow tie. Period.
“Aren’t you going to say good morning?” he teased, depositing the tray on the nightstand.
“Good morning,” she parroted automatically, her gaze quizzical as she tilted her head. “May I ask what this is all about?”
He stuck his head in the closet and rummaged around, removing two gaily wrapped packages before turning to her with mock chagrin. “I knew it! The magic is wearing off already. You forgot!”
Not likely, she thought with a soft smile. But it surprised her a little that he hadn’t. “How could I forget our six-month anniversary?” she chided him gently. “I just didn’t expect you to remember. Most men don’t think about those things, you know.”
His eyes—warm, filled with love, caressing—caught and held hers. “I guess I’m not most men—at least when it comes to you, Rebecca. I’ve treasured each moment of our marriage and counted my blessings every single day.”
Rebecca’s throat tightened with emotion as he stretched out beside her, propping himself up on one elbow while he reached over to play with the strap of her gown. As she gazed into his wonderful eyes, she knew in her heart that
she
was the one who had been blessed. She doubted whether many men would have exhibited Zach’s infinite understanding and patience, both of which had been taxed to the limit over the past few months. She knew he had often wanted more than she was able to give, but he’d never pushed her. Instead, in his lovingly supportive way, he’d helped her take one step at a time until finally, oh-so-slowly, she’d learned to relax. He had loved her through it all, had never stopped believing and encouraging, even when her own optimism wavered. She owed him a debt of gratitude she could never repay. Except with love. And thanks to him, she had learned to joyfully give full expression to that emotion.
She glanced at the tray, the flowers, the gifts, and her throat constricted with tenderness once more at his thoughtfulness. If she lived a hundred years, she vowed never to take for granted this special man, who let her know every day in countless ways that she was cherished and loved beyond measure. Impulsively she reached over and gave him a long, lingering kiss.
“Happy anniversary,” she said huskily.
“Happy anniversary, sweetheart,” he echoed, pulling her close to return the kiss. When at last he drew back, he took a deep breath then gave her a crooked grin. “Aren’t you going to open your presents?” he teased.
She smiled and snuggled next to him contentedly. “Do I have to?”
He hesitated, then sighed deeply. “I think you’d better,” he decided, reaching behind him to retrieve the two packages. “Otherwise I’m likely to forget all about them.”
She scooted into a more upright position, reaching for the smallest package first. She tore the wrapping off and flipped open the lid of the jewelry box to reveal a gold tulip on a delicate chain. Her eyes misted as she looked over at him, and he gave her a tender smile.
“That will always be our flower—a symbol of new life and new beginning after a long, dark winter,” he said quietly.
“You were my sun, you know,” she told him softly. “Your warmth is what brought my heart to life.” She reached over and touched his dear face, the tears glistening in her eyes. “Oh, Zach, I love you so much!”
His eyes held hers compellingly, and he reached for her hand, kissing the palm tenderly. “It’s mutual, sweetheart,” he seconded huskily. “Go ahead and open the other package.”
This one was flat, and when she pulled off the paper it was, as she suspected, an envelope. Her gaze fell on the return address and she looked at Zach with eager anticipation. “Is this what I think it is?”
He nodded. “It came yesterday. But I decided to keep it for today.”
Carefully, her hands trembling slightly, she opened the envelope and scanned the papers. A feeling of immense relief swept over her, and she closed her eyes, saying a silent prayer of thanks. She’d been confident this day would come, yet there had still been an underlying tension. She and Zach had kept their concerns from Isabel, knowing she’d already dealt with too much uncertainty in her young life. As far as she was concerned, she had belonged to them since the night Josef died. But now it was official. The red tape was finished. Isabel was theirs.
“I thought this would make the day even more memorable,” Zach said, smiling at her tenderly.
She set the gifts carefully aside and stretched out beside him. “It makes things feel…complete,” she reflected. “Like we’re really and truly a family now.”
“I know what you mean,” he concurred, reaching over again to play with a strand of her beautiful hair.
“Zach.”
“Mmm-hmm.”
“I don’t have a present for you. But I do have some news.”
“I’m not in the news game anymore,” he reminded her distractedly.
“I think you might want to hear this news.”
“Actually, I have something else on my mind at the moment,” he confessed, reaching down to drop a trail of soft kisses along her collarbone.
“Well, I guess it can wait. I just figured that when a man’s wife was going to have a baby, he might want to know right away.”
His lips stilled, and then he lifted his head and stared at her. “A baby?”
“Mmm-hmm. You know… Small. Pink. Cry and sleep and wet a lot?” she teased.
“A baby? A baby!” he repeated. His tone was incredulous, awed, joyous. “Wow!”
“I just found out yesterday. I didn’t want to say anything until I was sure. I hoped you’d be happy.”
“Happy? Happy doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel! This is…this is awesome, as my students would say!”
She laughed softly, a delicious feeling of joy filling her heart. “Yeah. Awesome.”
Zach’s eyes softened with adoration as he leaned over her, tangling his fingers in her hair. His gaze caressed her, taking in every nuance of her beautiful, expressive face. “Do you have any idea how much I love you?” he asked, his voice catching in a way that tugged at her heart.
“Why don’t you show me?” she whispered, her eyes burning into his.
He complied readily, lowering his lips to hers in the silent but eloquent language known to lovers through the ages, and Rebecca gave thanks once again. For the joy Isabel had brought them. For the new life growing within her. And for the gift of this cherished man’s love, whose patient nurturing had at last healed her heart.
Zach’s heart was also filled with gratitude as he softly gathered Rebecca into his arms. He knew that without this special woman, he might never have discovered the one simple truth Josef had always understood: that love is the only thing that really matters in the end. And for a fleeting moment, just before he lost himself in the wonder of Rebecca’s sweet love, he hoped Josef knew how things had turned out.
Because somehow he knew his friend would approve.
Dear Reader,
As I write this letter, I am sitting in my woodland garden watching the world reawaken after the long cold winter. It is a place of renewal, refreshment and enrichment, where the quiet is broken only by the lovely song of the birds. Here, in this special spot, the beauty of God’s handiwork can be fully appreciated.
Eight years ago, however, when my husband and I bought this house as newlyweds, this garden was a dense thicket, overgrown and wild. Slowly, year by year, I cut and pulled and dug and planted, always working toward a vision of what it could be, always believing it could be transformed into a beautiful and tranquil oasis. My husband even caught the spirit, adding his own special touch—a meandering stone path. And now, at last, my vision is a reality. But I have discovered, the garden is, and always will be, a work in progress, one that requires regular tending. Yet the rewards are great.
Love is much like my special place. It requires vision. And persistence. And faith. And attention. But it returns a hundredfold in joy.
In this story, Rebecca’s heart finds new life (much like her cherished tulips) as she discovers the tremendous healing power of love. Writing this story uplifted and inspired me, and I hope it does the same for you as you read it.
May your life be filled with love!
ISBN: 978-1-4592-0361-7
A FAMILY TO CALL HER OWN
Copyright © 1998 by Irene Hannon
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the editorial office, Steeple Hill Books, 233 Broadway, New York, NY 10279 U.S.A.
All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
This edition published by arrangement with Steeple Hill Books.
® and TM are trademarks of Steeple Hill Books, used under license. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.
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